Banjhakri and Banjhakrini
Supernatural shamanic couple and founders of Nepali shamanism.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Banjhākri and Banjhākrini are shamanic deities in the tradition of the Kirati people of Nepal and Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong in India. They are a couple, possibly different aspects of the same being, and are supernatural shamans of the forest. Banjhākri is revered as the founder of Nepali shamanism and the god of the forest, while Banjhākrini, also known as Lemlemey, serves as a brutal initiator in the training of shamans.
- field
- Shamanic deities
- known_for
- Founders of Nepali shamanism; supernatural forest shamans; training human children as shamans
- nationality
- Kirati tradition (Nepal and India)
- also_known_as
- Banjhākrini is also known as Lemlemey
Lore & Background
Banjhākri is a short, wild, simian trickster, a descendant of the Sun, with large ears, backward-pointing feet, and long matted hair covering his entire body except his face and palms. He plays a golden dhyāngro, the frame drum used by Nepali shamans. Banjhākrini is both ursine and humanoid, with long hair, long pendulous breasts, backward-pointing feet, and carries a symbolic golden sickle. She is usually described as bloodthirsty and brutal.
Banjhākri finds human children with potential to become great shamans and takes them to his cave for training, where they face danger of being eaten whole by Banjhākrini. Although he abducts boys and, by some accounts, girls, he does not do so out of malice. Children who pass Banjhākrini's initiation receive shamanic training and can become more powerful than shamans trained by people.
Like the yeti, Banjhākri and Banjhākrini can be seen in the human world, but only powerful shamans can see them. Unlike the taller yeti, Banjhākri is only about 1–1.5 metres tall. One anthropologist has suggested Banjhākri is a therianthrope, a humanoid who changes into a non-human animal form. Some legends say there are numerous ban-jhākri and ban-jhākrini.
Reader's Guide
Banjhākri and Banjhākrini hold central significance in Kirati shamanic tradition as the original supernatural shamans and founders of Nepali shamanism. Banjhākri is celebrated as a teacher and god of the forest, embodying the wild, transformative power of nature. Their role in abducting and training children highlights the perilous yet essential path to becoming a powerful shaman, with Banjhākrini's bloodthirsty initiation serving as a test of worth. The deities' backward-pointing feet, simian or ursine features, and association with the golden dhyāngro and sickle mark them as liminal beings bridging the human and spirit worlds. The suggestion that Banjhākri may be a therianthrope adds to their mysterious, shape-shifting nature. Their visibility only to powerful shamans reinforces the esoteric knowledge required to access their realm. As the founders of shamanic practice, they remain revered figures whose legacy continues in the rituals and beliefs of Nepali shamans, representing the untamed forest and the transformative power of spiritual apprenticeship.
Did You Know?
- Banjhākri is a descendant of the Sun and plays a golden dhyāngro, the frame drum used by Nepali shamans.
- Banjhākrini is also known as Lemlemey and carries a symbolic golden sickle.
- Only powerful shamans can see Banjhākri and Banjhākrini in the human world.
- Banjhākri is about 1–1.5 metres tall, unlike the taller yeti.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Banjhakri and Banjhakrini?
They are a supernatural shamanic couple from the Kirati tradition of Nepal and northeastern India, widely regarded as the founding figures of Nepali shamanism. They dwell in the forest and are venerated as its divine guardians.
What roles do Banjhakri and Banjhakrini play in shamanic practice?
Banjhakri is honored as the god of the forest and the originator of the shamanic tradition, while Banjhakrini—also called Lemlemey—serves as a harsh initiator who trains human children into becoming shamans. Together they embody the full cycle of forest-based spiritual instruction.
How does the story of Banjhakri and Banjhakrini end?
There is no canonical narrative ending, since they function as ongoing deities rather than characters in a finite plot. Their role as forest shamans and trainers of new practitioners is continuous within Kirati belief.
Why are Banjhakri and Banjhakrini important to Kirati culture?
They are considered the very founders of Nepali shamanism, making them the spiritual ancestors of every shaman in the tradition. Their worship anchors Kirati religious identity across Nepal, Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong.
Are Banjhakri and Banjhakrini two separate beings or one?
They are described as a couple, though some accounts suggest they may be two aspects of a single entity. This duality mirrors their complementary functions: forest guardianship on one side and shamanic initiation on the other.
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